BOSNIA POLITICAL UPDATE - OCTOBER 30, 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 002315 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE(HOH/STINCHCOMB); NSC FOR BRAUN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017 TAGS: BK PGOV PREL SUBJECT: BOSNIA POLITICAL UPDATE - OCTOBER 30, 2007 Classified By: DCM Judith B. Cefkin. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). RSNA Conclusions -------------- ¶1. (C) Yesterday's special session of the RS National Assembly resumed this morning in order to approve the text of a resolution negotiated over the evening. The resolution which consisted of language agreed by SNSD, SDS, the Serb Radical Party and PDP passed with 71 votes in favor and 6 votes, representing SDA, SBiH and SDP delegates, against. Although the twelve-point resolution is nonbinding it included provocative language that does not moderate or diverge from the positions of Dodik and other Serb leaders. Specifically, the resolution declared the Lajcak measures to be inconsistent with Dayton and the Bosnian constitution and calls for a legal challenge to the measures before the constitutional court. Although the RSNA did not broach the issue of withdrawing from the state government or devolution of competencies, it did specify that the current special session will resume after the conclusion of the PIC to consider additional conclusions based on the communique. PIC Convenes -------------- ¶2. (C) Fog at the airport delayed the arrival of several political directors but the day's PIC meetings continued on an abridged schedule. The Ambassador and DAS DiCarlo are currently holding a bilateral meeting with High Representative Lajcak before proceeding to plenary events. OHR was engaged in drafting the PIC communique throughout the day and resisted several U.S. attempts to toughen the message. Lajcak has called for a Quint political directors meeting on the margins of tomorrow's PIC events High Representative. Lajcak Meets with EUFOR/NATO -------------- ¶3. (C) Yesterday High Representative Lajcak met with EUFOR Commander Rear Admiral Hans Whitthauer and visiting DSACEUR General John McColl to discuss the security environment. In comments to the press, Admiral Whitthauer stated that EUFOR has "forces ready for possible intervention and to be sure that we can intervene again in case of a new war." Privately, Admiral Whitthauer has told us that in the wake of the drawdown, EUFOR, even augmented with its rapid reaction force, would be unable to mount substantive peacekeeping operations in Bosnia. ENGLISH